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• Konnarock Trail Crew

  • Start
    05/16/2025
  • End
    05/23/2025
  • Location
    Konnarock Trail Crew

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  This work trip will support the annual A.T. Konnarock Trail Crew in the National Forest. Each year, volunteers from across the country sign up for this ATC-sponsored summer trail crew, over a week-long period. This year, the crew will be. The work site is approximately 1 mile from the trailhead. Car camping is available on a vehicle-accessible gated Forest Service road. SMHC volunteers who participate for 3 or more days on the project will receive a commemorative ATC Trails Crew T-Shirt.

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• Angel Falls/Grand Gap Loop - Big South Fork

  • When
    05/17/2025
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Leatherwood Ford Parking Lot BSF
  • Spaces left
    21

  Register

  Beginning at the Leatherwood Ford trailhead area, we will hike north on the John Muir Trail to the Angel Falls Overlook, with its stunning views of the Big South Fork Gorge and River. We will pick up the Grand Gap Loop, hiking counter-clockwise, to circle the top of the Cumberland Plateau, with more fabulous views, including the Grand Gap Overlook.

  Hike distance is 12.8 miles, with 1400 ft of elevation gain. Rated Difficult.

  Carpool from the Hardee’s at 107 Buffalo Road, Clinton (I-75 exit 122). Leave at 7:30 a.m. sharp. Round-trip is 108 miles. At $0.07 per mile, the suggested reimbursement to the driver of $8. Or meet at the Leatherwood Ford parking lot in Big South Fork at 9:00 a.m.

  
  

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• New Member Hike: Rainbow Falls (Easy Hike) (Sunday)

  • When
    05/18/2025
  •  
    9:30 AM
  • Location
    Rainbow Falls Trailhead GSMNP

  Register

  Come join us for a hike to Rainbow Falls! From the Rainbow Falls parking lot on Cherokee Orchard Road, we will hike 2.8 miles to the Falls, then back, for a round trip of 5.8 miles. Along the way, we will learn about the Smokies, and about the Smoky Mountains Hiking Club. Despite the relatively short distance, there is still a climb of about 1600 feet to the falls, along a beautifully rehabilitated trail.

  Meet at the Cracker Barrel off of the Strawberry Plains exit #398, 1510 Cracker Barrel Lane, Knoxville at 8:00am (70 miles RT @ $0.07/mile = $5 rounded). 8 am Departure from Carpool Location - 9:30 am departure from trailhead. Limited to 25 Hikers.

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• Gabes Mountain Trail to Campsite 34

  • When
    05/24/2025
  •  
    9:00 AM
  • Location
    Gabes Mountain Trailhead

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  On this out and back hike, we will first hike 2.1 miles to the 90-foot Hen Wallow Falls, then continue for 2.7 miles to Campsite 34.

  Roundtrip will be 9.6 miles. Rated moderate.

  Meet at Cracker Barrel at I-40 Exit 398 (1510 Cracker Barrel Lane, southeast corner of parking lot) at 7:45 am or at Cosby Campground near the trailhead at 9:00 am. Drive 120 miles RT {@ 0.10/mile = $12.00}.

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• Wednesday Hike: Abrams CG/Cooper Rd/Little Bottoms/Hanna Mtn/Rabbit Creek Loop

  • When
    05/28/2025
  •  
    8:45 AM
  • Location
    Abrams Creek Ranger Station GSMNP

  Register

  Starting at Abrams Campground, hike Cooper Rd to junction with Little Bottoms Trail. Hike Little Bottoms Trail and Hatcher Mtn Trail to wade across Abrams Creek at Hanna Mtn Trail. Follow Hanna Mtn Trail to the Scott Gap intersection with Rabbit Creek Trail. Hike Rabbit Creek trail to a second wade across Abrams Creek to Abrams Creek Ranger Station and our cars. Bring your water shoes for the two creek crossings.

  Rated moderate with 9.0 miles and 1,800 ft elevation gain.

  Meet ready to leave at Kroger in Alcoa at 7:30 or at the trailhead 8:45. Drive distance 30 miles @ 0.07/mile = $2.10.

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• Savage Gulf State Park

  • When
    05/31/2025
  •  
    6:30 AM
  • Location
    Harriman Lowe's parking lot
  • Spaces left
    24

  Register

  The club has hiked at the amazing Savage Gulf a few times in the past and it became a protected state natural area in 1971. Named for the Savage family who kept portions wild, the gulf remains a large expanse of untouched wilderness carved deep into the west slope of the Cumberland Plateau. Now it has become one of the newest State Parks in 2024 so it's a good time to go back while it’s still relatively untouched (RV campground and lake are already planned).

  It is a bit of a drive from our area and we made a dinner stop at Cumberland Mountain State Park on the way back on one trip which is a good option this time. A car shuttle is planned so we can hike through the heart of Savage Gulf and enjoy several of the highlights. We will leave some cars at the south trailhead and drive around to the north trailhead and ranger station.

  We'll begin hiking over to Laurel Falls then along the rim and down through the famous Stone Door and into the Big Creek arm of the gulf. The connector trail leads over to the Collins Gulf trail, which we follow upstream past the Savage Cabin site, a spring and the interesting Horsepound Falls. Past the falls, the trail continues along the Collins river then climbs out of the canyon up past Suter Falls to the cars at the south trailhead.

  Hike total about 11 miles. Elevation loss and gain 1000 ft. Rated moderate to difficult.

  Meet at the Harriman Lowe's parking lot at 6:30 am and plan on being back very late. Drive 230 miles RT = $16 for drivers. Please register in advance to help with car pool arrangements.

  
  

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• Annual National Trails Day Event

  • When
    06/07/2025
  •  
    7:00 AM
  • Location
    Sugarlands Visitor Center, Large vehicle parking lot

  Register

  Join us to celebrate our club’s 28th annual NTD event! Each year, nearly 100 volunteers come out to help rehab the 12-mile-long, high-use trail sections, between Double Springs and Icewater Springs shelters. Volunteers are divided into teams of 6-8 individuals and assigned to work a section roughly 1-1.5 miles long. A picnic-style meal and door prizes are provided at the end of the workday.

  REGISTRATION DEADLINE: MAY 24, 2025

  WORK DATE MEET-UP TIME: 7 a.m. at Sugarlands Visitor Center, Great Smoky Mountains National Park, 1420 Fighting Creek Gap Rd, Gatlinburg, TN 37738. From there you will receive crew assignments and drive to your trailheads. Picnic will be at Metcalf Bottoms at 5 p.m.

  WHAT TO WEAR: Layered clothing, boots or sturdy shoes (no open-toe footwear).

  WHAT TO BRING: Plenty of water, RAIN GEAR, lunch, snacks, work gloves, sunscreen and bug repellant.

  REGISTRATION FEE: Registration is free, but if you want a commemorative T-Shirt the cost is $20. The shirt has a new design each year, and we encourage everyone to get the T-Shirt and wear it to help us advertise the event. 

  PLEASE NOTE: Your registration serves as your commitment to attend, since T-Shirts and the afternoon picnic are being ordered, and crews will be built based on our registrations.

  DONATIONS: Monetary donations may be made at smhclub.org/donate. Please list NTD in the comments section.

  QUESTIONS? Email Taylor Weatherbee tweatherbe@aol.com

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• Club 1st Saturday Work trip

  • When
    07/12/2025
  • Location
    Fontana, NC

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  This work trip will focus on treadway rehab in the Nantahala National Forest between The Nantahala Outdoor Rafting Center and Fontana Dam. Specific locations of work will be based on prioritization of work needed. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.

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• Club 1st Saturday Work trip

  • When
    08/02/2025
  • Location
    AT

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  Each season, several hundred pounds of hardwood mulch are used at each of our backcountry privies to aid in proper composting. This work trip will focus on packing mulch to one or more of our backcountry privy locations that is less than 3 miles from the trailhead. Mulch is put in 20 lb. bags for carrying. The club has extra backpacking-style backpacks if needed. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.

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• Club 1st Saturday Work trip

  • When
    09/06/2025
  • Location
    Cosby Campground

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  This work trip will focus on treadway rehab in the section between Mt Cammerer Fire Tower and Camel Gap. Access to the work area will be via the 2.5 mile Low Gap Trail, starting at the Cosby Campground. Specific locations of work will be based on prioritization of work needed. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.

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• Club 1st Saturday Work trip

  • When
    10/04/2025
  • Location
    Newfound Gap

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  This work trip will focus on treadway rehab in the section between Newfound Gap to Icewater Springs. This is our most heavily used section of trail, and it sees a lot of wear each season. Specific locations of work will be based on prioritization of work needed. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.

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• Club 1st Saturday Work trip

  • When
    11/01/2025
  • Location
    TBD

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  November is time to start winding down the trail maintenance season. This work day will be focused on cleaning, sharpening, repairing, inventorying, and storing the club’s tools for the winter. The SMHC Newsletter will provide details on what to bring and where we will meet.

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